Compare towns
Killingly vs Putnam vs Salem vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Killingly has the youngest population (median age 39.5).
Putnam has the most renters (49.3% rent).
Salem has the most people working from home (18%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Killingly | Putnam | Salem | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,867Highest |
7,120 |
4,282Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.1% CT: +0.9% |
— | — |
| Median age | 39.5±3Lowest 4% below CT |
41.2±5.1 about the CT average |
40.9±5.4 about the CT average |
43.7±3Highest 6% above CT |
| Putnam and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±2.3 CT: 20.2% |
18.9%±4.3 CT: 20.2% |
23.2%±5.1Highest CT: 20.2% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest CT: 20.2% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
17%±3.7Lowest CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±4.7Highest CT: 18.5% |
18.5%±3.1 CT: 18.5% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% CT: 42.5% |
18.8%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
50.6%Highest CT: 42.5% |
20% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±1.9 CT: 7.1% |
4.2%±1.8 CT: 7.1% |
5.8%±3.3Highest CT: 7.1% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest CT: 7.1% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,350±$8k 12% below CT |
$65,511±$7kLowest 32% below CT |
$123,245±$8kHighest 29% above CT |
$70,561±$7k 26% below CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,600±$15k 21% below CT |
$245,100±$13kLowest 33% below CT |
$403,600±$33kHighest 10% above CT |
$269,200±$11k 27% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$141Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,147±$43 23% below CT |
$1,440±$150Highest 3% below CT |
$1,149±$44 23% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,922 41% below CT |
$3,564Lowest 46% below CT |
$6,668Highest about the CT average |
$3,860 42% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.8%±10.9Highest CT: 52.6% |
38.2%±12.1 CT: 52.6% |
32.1%±26Lowest CT: 52.6% |
37.7%±11.6 CT: 52.6% |
| Killingly and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4% CT: 10% |
11.7%Highest CT: 10% |
6.2%Lowest CT: 10% |
11.5% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% CT: 66.5% |
50.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
86.6%Highest CT: 66.5% |
59.8% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 1 yr newer than CT |
1956Lowest 11 yrs older than CT |
1988Highest 21 yrs newer than CT |
1961 6 yrs older than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above CT |
25 min 5% below CT |
32 minHighest 19% above CT |
25 minLowest 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.3 CT: 16% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18%±9.6Highest CT: 16% |
9%±2.8 CT: 16% |
| Salem and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #136 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT | #11 of 149 in CT | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | — | Salem School District | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Killingly High School | — | None in town | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.